Employee Gear Closet: Jamon Whitehead
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Employee Gear Closet: Jamon Whitehead
by Genevieve Mount
Most people would probably think that the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase in Park City, Utah—which is a race 16 miles long, with an altitude gain of about 3500 feet—is a bit outrageous. Then again, for those at Backcountry.com like Jamon Whitehead, this race is a nice warm-up before an afternoon mountain bike ride. Jamon started running in high school, but it wasn’t until he moved to Utah that he really tapped into his trail-running passion. There’s just something pure to him about lacing up his trail shoes and running 10-15 miles in the mountains. During work hours, Whitehead can be found in the Customer Solutions Department (he’s a Gearhead, in other words), but outside of work, he rarely sits still. Jamon loves running in 100-degree July heat as much as he loves the middle of March mud season. Check out his favorite running gear.
Salomon XA Pro 3D Trail Running Shoe
You couldn’t take away my
Salomon XA Pros
if you tried.They are so versatile.Not too heavy for
the longer runs but still supportive for fast, loose-terrain descents.
For wetter and colder conditions, I’d suggest the
Gore-Tex XCR
version of these shoes, which are great for the Utah winters. My feet are often the
warmest part of my body even when I’m running through shin-deep snow
drifts. In competition runs, I like the super light
La Sportiva Slingshot and the newer
La Sportiva Fireblade.They are the lightest trail shoes I have ever worn, but the
soles are stiff and durable enough to take a beating.
Under Armor Red Line Shorts
On hot summer runs, I wear the Under Armor Red Line shorts, with
Mountain Hardwear Wicked Tech Shirts.
The light, breathable material is essential for both dry heat and humid East Coast weather.
Icebreaker Bodyfit Tech Tops and Bottoms
I sport Icebreaker Bodyfit tops and bottoms when it gets a bit cooler out. Merino wool is pretty amazing—warm and breathable, and odor-resistant. I wear the long tops with shorts in 40 degree weather, and when it gets down to the 20s, I’ll don the merino wool top, bottoms, and a winter hat like
The North Face Bones Beanie.
SmartWool Running Light Micro Sock
Lately I’ve been wearing merino wool socks like the
SmartWool Running Socks and
Darn Tough Back-Road sock.
I love the merino. It works so well in varied conditions. I have worn these socks in 100 degree heat and plan to wear them throughout the winter.
Marmot PreCip Jacket
When the temp drops, but the rain isn’t quite snow, I bust out the Marmot Precip. It performs extremely well in wet conditions and seems to flow well with my body. I have tried other jackets, but many end up feeling awkward and stuffy.